Mijts Blog

The first couple of years we were in PNG I filled in time by doing some volunteer work in a couple of schools – some Year 10 English and making cards at a Primary School. This year I decided to do something a bit different. I set up ‘Maria’s School’ – more like an avenue for some basic learning for some little ones who live in our neighbourhood! I started back in April with the two little ones who live downstairs and two who lived next door – aged from 2 – 4 years old.
(The 2 year old has since turned 3!!).

I brought paints, playdough, crayons etc back from Australia. Nick bought me a folding table and chairs for our spare bedroom and our ‘classes’ began – three mornings a week.

Within days my group had grown!! Three little ones from Stephanie’s village even came in on the truck (an hour’s trip) to be part of the group. I now had 7 children up to 6 years old!

Another desk and chairs were added!

I decided we had to do more than paint and playdough. We sing action songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider, The Wheels on the Bus and many more. The alphabet is sung each day. We have done many sounds/letters following the Jolly Phonics Program – and they love those little action rhymes too!

They are writing their letters, doing basic number up to 10, learning colours – and all in English!!

They just love craft activities – using glue, scissors etc for the first time.

Every day we finish by going downstairs, throwing and catching and kicking a ball and running, hopping, skipping, flying like a plane, hopping like a frog etc. They have even learned to skip with a rope – they love all the physical activity!

I have no blackboard or pinboard but just use blutac to put things on the wall.

The little ones from next door have moved to Port Moresby, another little boy has joined the group – and so we continue to do our thing! I have NEVER seen little children so keen to learn! I just love working with them.

Some of them had never even done colouring-in and they have improved rapidly!

If one of them misses a day or two, then they always want to stay longer the next time and catch up on their work.

They LOVE craft. When we did ‘n’ for nest they made a mobile – and of course a kite when we did ‘k’

But the all time favourite – theirs and mine! – was the car they made! (we currently have 4 boys and 2 girls) – the girls loved it too!

Nick and I are off to Australia on Friday for leave – I will be away for 8 weeks – and I sure am going to miss these little ones! How could anyone resist these big brown eyes?

It has been ages since we posted here – just busy with our everyday lives in PNG!!
Our nearby volcano has been very quiet for over a year – often referred to as ‘volcano dead now’!. Well she certainly came alive again this week – a few big bangs and plenty of ash coming out – although intermittently. On Saturday we walked across the road to the golf course to take some photos of the current activity.

We have been having quite a few gurias (earthquakes ) lately too. Woke 3am Sunday to a big bang followed by much shaking and creaking of the house. Eventually flew out of bed – but then it stopped! It was a 5.1 centred about 84km away. We get a bit blase about them as they occur so regularly but every now and then a stronger and longer one makes you start to think you should leave the house – but then they usually stop!

As you can tell by the golf course we have also been having a lot of rain lately – making up for what was a dry ‘wet season’.

I played golf on Sunday – in my first monthly medal event. It was very wet and muddy BUT (with the help of my high handicap!) I won the ladies monthly medal – a frying pan and an engraved pewter wine goblet – very chuffed!! (Although I refused to chug the beer that came with the goblet -had to use a friend to do that for me!)